Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On November 5, the first unit of the AION UT Super—a new electric vehicle jointly developed by JD.com, GAC AION, and CATL—officially rolled off the production line at a factory in Changsha, marking the debut of what the partners describe as a "Guomin Haoche" (translating to "people's car") designed to make smart EV ownership accessible to a broader market.
According to people familiar with production at the plant, assembly lines are now running at full capacity, with workers putting in three hours of overtime daily to ensure that the first batch of vehicles is delivered on schedule.
JD.com first announced the project on October 14, revealing plans to collaborate with GAC Group and CATL on what it called a "Guomin Haoche" initiative. The e-commerce giant plays a strategic role in user insights and digital sales channels, while leaving the manufacturing process entirely to its automotive partners.
On October 23, the companies officially unveiled the model's name—AION UT Super—and highlighted four of its key product features, ranging from extended range and rapid battery swapping to intelligent connectivity and flexible ownership options.
At the heart of the AION UT Super is CATL's "Choco-Swap" battery-swapping technology, which allows the vehicle's battery to be swapped in just 99 seconds. It comes equipped with a large-capacity battery offering 500 km of range. The system supports both charging and battery swapping, giving users the flexibility to lease, rent, or purchase without worrying about depreciation. Each swap functions as a built-in safety inspection, with real-time battery monitoring to ensure reliability and peace of mind.
Inside, the AION UT Super focuses on comfort and spaciousness. With a 2,750 mm wheelbase and 905 mm of rear legroom, the compact A-segment platform delivers B-segment interior space, comfortably accommodating passengers up to 1.8 meters tall. A 1,385 mm cabin width ensures that even three adults can sit side by side without feeling cramped. In a rare touch for its class, the front seats can fully recline into a flat bed, allowing passengers to rest during long trips.
On the technology front, the AION UT Super is the first vehicle to feature GAC's Huawei-powered "Cloud Vehicle" system, leveraging Huawei's cloud computing clusters to deliver virtually unlimited processing power. This enables smooth performance for AAA-level games and high-definition video streaming, supported by terabyte-level cloud storage and access to over 20,000 in-car apps. Users can upload mobile apps to the vehicle in just three steps by scanning a QR code, addressing long-standing issues of sluggish, aging infotainment systems and setting a new standard for smart cockpit experiences in the mass market segment.
